Sohalia, unlike most people, did not have secrets. She'd never been a very secretive person, wearing her heart on her sleeve and willingly talking about almost anything, even to people she barely knew. So her hesitation to share her experience was different, abnormal, uncomfortable in a way that she couldn't identify. She didn't want to keep quiet, but fear is a funny thing. It makes you act in ways that would previously have been impossible.
Tal listened in silence, squeezing her foot at intervals in a show of calm reassurance. Soh was grateful; if he'd grown angry, even if not at her, she likely would have silenced herself, unable to continue. Instead, the quiet strength that he radiated grounded her, allowing her to finish her tale, even if it was in broken pieces.
I don't hate you. Soh's head snapped up, her good eye searching Tal's for any hint of a lie. Finding none, she finally relaxed, if only marginally. He really didn't hate her. Unfortunately, that didn't stop her from hating herself. "But I didn't do what we practiced, did I? We trained to distract and run, but what I did... if I'm capable of hurting someone like that, what does that make me?" she asked tearfully, burying her face in her hands (tenderly, avoiding the bruising around her eye).
Tal listened in silence, squeezing her foot at intervals in a show of calm reassurance. Soh was grateful; if he'd grown angry, even if not at her, she likely would have silenced herself, unable to continue. Instead, the quiet strength that he radiated grounded her, allowing her to finish her tale, even if it was in broken pieces.
I don't hate you. Soh's head snapped up, her good eye searching Tal's for any hint of a lie. Finding none, she finally relaxed, if only marginally. He really didn't hate her. Unfortunately, that didn't stop her from hating herself. "But I didn't do what we practiced, did I? We trained to distract and run, but what I did... if I'm capable of hurting someone like that, what does that make me?" she asked tearfully, burying her face in her hands (tenderly, avoiding the bruising around her eye).
